Headline: Cristina Fernández to lead new alliance in Argentina elections

The sub-headline almost says it all! The panic of the chicken-littles at the Financial Times in the face of the political resurrection of that ‘fiery populist’ Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. This is redolent of that old cliche of the ‘hot blooded Latina’ of an age long past. Just indicative of the myopia of the editors and headline writers of this publication!

But once the reader gets past this masculinist characterization of Ms. de Kirchner, and its muted panic over the perpetual enemy of the ‘Neo-Liberal Center’, Populism, Benedict Mander’s reportage offers some valuable insights.

Sub-headline: Former president will have decisive impact on vote that may have economic implications

The former leader remains central to national life. Her role in midterm legislative elections in October could decide the outcome, while the success of Mr Macri’s market-oriented economic reform programme will depend to a significant extent on the legal and political fortunes of the fiery populist.

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Analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch have warned that a victory for her in the province could “paralyse” investment decisions.

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As she wrote on Facebook recently: “How far is the pressure from the executive power going to go to keep using these legal cases as a manoeuvre to distract from the grave and real problems that are afflicting our country, and which the people are suffering?”

Sub-headline: Floundering opposition struggles to challenge reform

In recent weeks, Mauricio Macri, Argentina’s president, has faced a storm of criticism.

After failing to condemn an official who offended many when he played down the gravity of Argentina’s military dictatorship, he is now accused of favouritism towards his father’s company in negotiations over the repayment of a $300m debt to the state after a botched privatisation of the post office in the 1990s.

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“It worries me that Macri seems to be making so many unforced errors, but this scandal over the post office will blow over. Macri is still so much better than the previous lot, who are a bunch of crooks,” says Jimena Morales, a well-heeled architect who voted for Mr Macri.

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Indeed, some analysts quote Peron, who said that Peronists are like cats: when it seems like they are fighting, they are in fact reproducing.

Mr Scioli, a former governor of Buenos Aires province, cast doubt on Mr Macri’s ability to reactivate the economy, expressing concern about debt levels and shrinking salaries. “The government’s reforms have led to a deterioration in many economic and social indicators. They say this is necessary so that later we can be better off — I hope that time comes,” he says.

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For Mr Bárbaro, the demise of Peronism is irrelevant to the political fortunes of Mr Macri, who he argues is simply profiting from the resentment sowed by the divisive Ms Fernández. “In Argentina, those in power often end up defeating themselves. They don’t need an opposition.”

Headline: Cristina Fernández charged in Argentina corruption case

Sub-headline: Former president suffers her biggest legal setback after public works accusations

In the latest legal setback for one of Latin America’s most charismatic leaders, who styled herself on the Argentine heroine Evita Perón, Ms Fernandez will be tried for allegedly steering public contracts to Mr Báez. The millionaire businessman has been under investigation since 2013 as the frontman for Ms Fernández and her late husband and predecessor, Néstor Kirchner, in an elaborate money laundering scheme. This involved luxury hotels in Patagonian resorts that news reports claim are usually empty.

Elisa Carrió, an important figure in Mr Macri’s coalition and an outspoken crusader against corruption, assured the Financial Times earlier this year that Ms Fernández would “end up in prison” since she was involved in “almost all the lawsuits” connected to the previous government.